welcome to nhk world "newsline." people across the arab world are leaving their homes and their offices and heading out into the streets. protests against an american-made anti-islamic film are spreading. the growing turmoil follows tuesday' attack on a u.s. consulate in libya that killed an ambassador and three other staff. demonstrators in yemen are also targeting american diplomatic missions. they gathered in front of the heavily guarded u.s. embassy in sanaa. they chanted religious slogans.

some threw stones at the buildings or attempted to climb over the walls. al arab al arabiya reports a number of people were injured. [ chanting ] protesters have been out in force again in the egyptian capital cairo. they gathered in tahrir square a few hundred meters from the u.s. embassy, which they stormed a couple of days ago. security forces tried to disperse the crowd. demonstrators fought back. health authorities say more than a dozen people were injured. protesters are angry the american-made film ridicules the prophet muhammad and includes scenes of a sexual nature. muslims object to any depiction of muhammad. agents with the u.s. federal bureau of investigation are

looking into whether terrorist groups were behind that attack in libya. the gunman took aim at the consulate in the eastern city of benghazi with deadly results. chris stevens is the first american ambassador to die in a violent attack since 1979. u.s. government officials say the gunman broke into the compound tuesday, then started shooting and throwing bombs. the building went up in flames. the assault continued for more than four hours. government officials described it as elaborate. they say the fbi and libyan authorities have begun looking into the possibility al qaeda or other terrorist groups were involved. the attack fell on the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. authorities say all u.s. nationals in benghazi have flown to tripoli. marine commanders are sending their anti-terrorism team to tripoli. the 15 members will protect the u.s. embassy. ap agency reports the american military will deploy two

destroyers off the coast of libya as a precautionary measure. apple's new iphone hits the market next week. it's bigger, faster, and lighter. but will it be a hit? >> today we're going to introduce iphone5. [ applause ] >> the u.s. technology giant unveiled the iphone5 at an event in san francisco. apple has changed the size of the iphone for the first time since launching the original in 2007. the screen is bigger and the body of the phone is slightly longer. the new model is also thinner and 20% lighter than the previous phone. with high-speed lte communications, it transmits movies and other large-volume data files faster.

the new phone's new operating system enables voice recognition and features an apple original mapping service. >> iphone5 and ios6, the biggest things to happen to iphone since iphone. >> apple will start selling the phone on friday next week in the u.s., japan, and europe. the basic model in the u.s. will be priced at around $199. consumers all over the world can't wait to get their hands on the new iphone, but apple isn't the only company that's looking to benefit from the device. japanese firms are hoping for a slice of the apple pie as well. our business reporter yonggi kang has the story. >> so let's take a look at the brand-new iphone5. >> reporter: gadget geeks in japan have been waiting for this moment, the debut of the iphone5. >> translator: i really want to buy it. i heard the screen is bigger and it has more features. i'm interested in learning more about it.

>> translator: the speed of the current iphone is fast, but i'm looking forward to the difference the lte makes. >> reporter: it's not just consumers that are keeping a close eye on the debut of iphone5. businesses in japan are also trying to use this opportunity to cash in on the latest device. this firm makes applications for smartphones. staff gathered even before the sun was up on thursday to watch apple's presentation in san francisco. >> reporter: developers were eager to see the new functions. many were curious about which apps they would need to update. >> translator: i'm very excited about the prospect of developing new applications. >> reporter: the iphone5 has a function that allows users to save coupons.

this company is already developing an app that makes use of this feature. >> translator: the new functions ve the potential to change people's lives, and our apps help them start the changes. we hope to continue providing these kinds of products. >> reporter: accessory makers were also eager to get the specs of the new iphone5. people at this company make smartphone cases, screen protectors, and battery chargers. they developed cases for the new iphone before its debut by gathering information from their own sources. >> translator: we've heard that the new phone is a bit longer and thinner than the current models. it's also said that connectors for battery charging and data transfer is smaller. >> reporter: the company would not have been able to release its products in time for

iphone5's debut if the staff waited for the official announcement. so they created mock-ups based on a variety of specs. they'll quickly mass produce them so their products will be available by the time the phone hits stores next week. >> translator: the speed is the key as far as the iphone is concerned. most users buy protective cases and films. so it's important they're available when the new phones go on sale. >> reporter: businesspeople in japan are rooting for the success of this device. they believe if the iphone5 sells, so will the things they make. yonggi kang, nhk world. the yap sneeze government has released a draft of its new energy strategy. the document calls for a nonnuclear country. but the united states has expressed deep concern over

move. the policy chief of japan's ruling democratic party is visiting washington. seiji maehara met the u.s. deputy secretary of energy, daniel poneman, to brief him on the draft. the japanese government will take various steps and direct resources to halt all reactors by the 2030s. japan's future energy policy will be based on three principles. the operation of any nuclear plant will be limited to 40 years, suspended facilities will need to have their safety confirmed before they can resume operations, and no new reactors will be built. but the policy insists that nuclear reactors should be used as a transitional measure. maehara said poneman urged japan to minimize the negative impact of the policy on fossil fuel prices. poneman reportedly said japan should try to reduce its stocks of plutonium from spent nuclear fuel. maehara said poneman also told

him the u.s. will support japan's efforts to diversify its energy sources. it's hard for the world to really understand what's going on inside north korea. the regime tightly controls its people and the flow of information. but once in a while, outsiders get a snapshot of life in this reclusive nation. an nhk crew just returned from there, and for the first time since kim jong-un took charge last december, we were able to head out into the countryside. our coverage, though, starts in the capital of pyongyang. bright lights illuminate main streets at night. the image runs counter to the common belief that north korea suffers from energy shortages. big towers have popped up in pyongyang. crews are working to construct more buildings. despite all the new, people still enjoy the old. many visit the city's most famous cold noodle restaurant. >> translator: i have not eaten every type of food around the world, but i believe nothing could compare to this cold

noodle. >> even an informal interview about food is rare here. north korean authorities usually keep citizens from communicating with foreign media. outside the capital, we found north koreans enjoying leisure activities along the seaside. >> translator: we're having a good holiday with relatives, eating grilled meat like this. >> translator: it's delicious. >> they seem happy, but it's hard to know what life is really like for them. even government-organized gatherings seem to be changing. the regime often uses choreographed events to teach north koreans about itself dogma, but this one focused on entertaining younger people. authorities are trying to soften

the image of new leader kim jong-un. nhk world's taghima nogasuta and his crew shot most of that video. shery ahn spoke with him earlier. >> what did you take away from this trip? >> the north korean are not rich, but they don't seem to be starving either. i came across young women wearing fashionable clothing. even people in some of the cities are using mobile phones. i was surprised to see many north koreans riding bicycles, from children to seniors. but in the countryside, roads are not well maintained. we once encountered a car that runs on burning charcoal. rural areas seem to be lagging behind economically. >> now, north korea, of course, has very tight media restrictions. how did that affect your

coverage? >> i was surprised that north korea officials didn't stop us from shooting images or interviews. our camera crews captured almost anything with the exception of military facilities. but that doesn't mean we were able to go wherever we wanted. we were not free to strike out on our own. north korea officials worked out our schedule and route beforehand. we had to follow the instructions. so while our crew had more freedom than usual, we still faced tight restrictions. >> do you think kim jong-un's regime will open up north korea? >> i will say the country's has changed little by little since kim took power last december. there's the possibility north korean leaders are trying to

show they are making reforms, but as far as i can tell, they are not breaking from their basic political policy. they are still putting the military first, and they continue to ask people to praise their leader. so it will likely be some time before we will see real change in north korea. cambodia is still living with the legacy of the brutal khmer rouge regime. the process of bringing its leaders to justice is difficult as they are growing old. now one has been declared unfit to stand trial. patchari raksawong at our bureau in bangkok has the details. a tribunal jointly established by the united nations and the cambodia government has ordered the release of tirit, saying she is unfit for trial. tirrit was a minister in charge of officials under the khmer

rouge regime. she's the wife of another former defendant, a former vice prime minister sari, and the sister-in-law of pol pot. the court confirmed on thursday that tirit is suffering from illness, which is likely alzheimer's disease, and remains unfit to face trial. during its four years in power, the pol pot regime killed more than 1.7 million cambodians through large-scale massacres and forced labor. currently, three of the khmer rouge leaders remain on trial, but with all of them past the age of 80, the question is whether the judges will be able to reach a final verdict before it's too late. a new u.n. report says that the taliban raked in hundreds of millions of dollars last fiscal year. it also reveals a tangled web of funding sources with implications for the international community. nhk world's hideki yui reports.

>> reporter: the war in afghanistan continues to take a heavy toll on the civilian population. more than 3,000 civilian deaths were recorded in 2011, the worst per-year figure since the conflict began. meanwhile, the taliban insurgency is amassing a large amount of funds. a report released by the u.n. tuesday said the group raised about $400 million during the fiscal year that ended in march. the report was based partly on the testimony of senior taliban officials currently under custody. the insurgency acquired about one quarter of the sum from opium farming and related businesses. that figure is smaller than generally thought. the insurgency group is diversifying its source of revenue to increase donations from support groups and unofficial taxes on local populations.

part of group's financial success can be attributed to the anti-american sentiment that prevails in afghanistan. public anger is a frequent refund by incidents, such as u.s. soldiers burning copies of the koran or shooting unarmed civilians. the u.n. report also points out the taliban is throwing an increasing part of its income by skimming from development project and impound foreign aid. it says this source represents 10% to 20% of the group's revenue. last july, international donors meeting in tokyo pledged to provide some $4 billion per year in aid to afghanistan. as the taliban intensifies its activities, one of the main challenges will be preventing these funds from ending up in their hands. hideki yui, nhk world, islamabad.

there are high hopes for the growing market of the muslim world, such as indonesia, as the worldwide economic slowdown continues. many businesses from islamic countries are gathering in jakarta for a trade fair to explore the possibilities. nhk world's desi tangjung reports. >> reporter: the muslim event is held by the organization of the islamic conference. companies and groups from iran's 30 countries are participating. businesses are showcasing an array of goods, including industrial products, clothing and food, and cosmetics. >> well, this is a very big event. all the participants, more than 500 plus, from different countries from the islamic world, they came here to participate, to showcase their latest innovation and products.

and we find it is a very good idea to come and work with our brothers. >> reporter: many firms from japan and other non-muslim countries are also attending, hoping to cash in on muslim markets with growth potential. representing thailand, officials from the commerce ministry visited the fair. they say there are great possibilities for business in the islam world. >> indonesia, malaysia, thailand, and the rest of the asian countries will be one. so one family, one corporation. and we hope that we can go to the global market in one family. >> reporter: with the world's largest muslim population, indonesia has been enjoying economic growth driven by robust domestic demand. but the country is not only attracting interest as an

emerging economy. for the southeast asian countries which aim to increase the asian economy community by 2015, indonesia connects them with other islamic markets. desy tanjang, nhk world, jakarta. >> that will wrap up our bulletin for today. i'm patchari raksawong in bangkok. artists use their work to reflect their perspectives and the world around them. the best among them change with changing times. that's what happened with japan's artist. his painting was once typical of this style, but the march 2011 disaster prompted him to reconsider his approach to his craft. >> reporter: familiar and yet

somehow very different. his exhibit exudes softness and warmth. 52-year-old nara is an internationally acclaimed artist. he honed his technique while studying in germany in the 1990s. promise blossomed into fame, first in europe, then america. but nara says all the critical attention and personal success came at a cost. >> after all the success, i lost the freedom to draw freely. i didn't have time to look at myself objectively. >> reporter: the 2011 tsunami and earthquake forced nara to take a hard look at himself. nara was born near the disaster region. he was shocked by the

devastation. >> translator: i was overwhelmed by how powerless i was. it was an empty feeling. i would think about what i could do for the people who had survived this devastation. i stood in front of the canvas but just couldn't paint anything. i didn't think it would possibly matter. >> reporter: struggling for inspiration, nara returned to his alma mater, back to his roots. he still couldn't face the canvas. he started with clay. >> translator: i realized i had to work on myself first. i had to hang in there. >> reporter: a five-foot-high sculpture, the work of an artist struggling to find his muse. >> translator: i had to touch the clay with my own hands and knead it. it forced me to think with my body.

>> reporter: finally, he was ready to start painting again. nara doesn't start with a sketch. the paint goes straight on. then it's reworked with each burst of inspiration. >> translator: most of my work is unplanned. i just start and something will come to me as i'm working. and at some instant, i can envision the finished product. >> reporter: that vision has changed since the disaster. something visitors at the exhibition seem to appreciate. >> translator: i felt challenged and renewed by his works. there are a lot of new pieces, and as i looked them over, it gave me a sense of courage. >> translator: when i look at my older works, there was something

insincere about them. i know this sounds bad, but there was almost a mocking tone in a lot of my pieces. i've straightened myself out a bit and knuckled down to my work. i've grown. the way i've mixed colors has changed. i really hope people will come out and see the show. we have a typhoon that is passing by the philippines and now approaching japan. meteorologist robert speta has the latest. robert? >> now it is actually a very violent typhoon samba, pushing off towards the north. you can see in the last several frames a very clear and defined eye kind offey cratinging that stadium effect right in the middle of it. that's creating a rapidly intensifying storm system and definitely clear with symmetrical shape to it. it's expected to affect the southern portions of the japanese islands on saturday and going into sunday morning.

with these high winds, they could be gusting above 270 kilometer ls per hour as we're showing here currently gursing up that high, pressure down to 910 hpa, and that really does show how strong this system is. especially on the southern coast in the right front kwautd rant, you'll have violent waves and storm surge in the low-lying areas. we'll watch this into the weekend and text week when portions of south korea could be feeling effects of this as well. but also heavy rain showers coming out of it, some areas seeing about 200 to 250 millimeters of rainfall here as that blows overhead, not just here along the track but that flow coming in from the west out of south china sea, even manila, you could be seeing some localized flooding. these urban areas with poor drainage, especially in the low-lying areas. want to watch this closely into the coming day, even towards indochina and thailand and over towards vietnam. that mon soona flow continues to kick up here, bringing some heavy rain showers. farther towards the north, we

have the stationary front here moving out of eastern china over towards south korea. this already brings some rain showers and thunderstorm activity across the korean peninsula today. well now into friday, slowly going to work its way towards the east. and this is playing a big toll on samba, causing it to move off towards the north. but also this could be dropping about 80 millimeters of rainfall in western japan alone, despite the fact that approaching typhoon from the south. as far as temperatures, though, we're looking rather warm across most of the tropics, bangkok with a high of 34 here, chongqing at 30, and all the way up to, l ulaanbaatar, 20 for yo high. diving sfo to the single digits for friday. towards the americas, continuing to wash a frontal area pushing a cross the central plains, kind of a lingering low pushing through portions of texas combined with an upper-level disturbance. it's going to continue to create some moisture out here, so throughout the rest of your week and your weekend, even early parts of next week, you'll see some scattered rain showers and thunderstorms persisting as that slowly creeps down towards the

east. now, this whole frontal area is really just the leading edge of cooler temperatures coming in behind it. portions of the dakotas, over towards montana, you could be seeing some freeze watches. and even farther off towards the north and portions of central canada, you have seen some frost watches through your overnight hours, but at least in canada here they're getting out there and enjoying autumn, especially out there in alberta. i want to show you here, basically end on a lighter note, is this corn maze out there in canada. that was created and is believed to have the largest qr code in the world. qr codes are actually scanned with a smartphone in directing the user to a website. the kra family, who runs the farm in alberta, they received a guinness world record certificate for the 29,000-square-meter maze. the family flew over it in a helicopter and held their smartphone out the window. this maze also includes qr codes

on sides to give visitors hints about finding their way around. so really great way to get out there and enjoy their autumn there in central canada. here's a look at your extended forecast. ♪

we'll be back with more updates in 30 minutes. i'm gene otani in tokyo.